Alarm-watch



March 5, 1963 R; s. RYSER 3,079,749

ALARM-WATCH Filed April 12, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 27 H 7 a 22 Z 20 v Invent-av R jm on cl Gil bev-fKusr mmn mfiw w Mrnef March 5, 1963 R. G. RYSER 3,079,749

ALARM-WATCH Filed April 12, 1960 a Sheets-Sheet 2 fig- 5 3,079,749 Patented Mar. 5, 1963 [inc 3,079,749 ALARiVl-WATCH Raymond Gilbert Ryser, Renae, Switzerland, assignor to Fabrique de boites de montres S. Graber S.A., Renan,

Bern, Switzerland Filed Apr. 12, 1969, Ser. No. 21,802 Claims priority, application Switzerland Sept. .30, 1959 Claims. (Cl. 58-575) This invention relates to alarm watches and in particular to alarm wrist-watches of the type comprising a movement with a particular stem to set the alarm time of the watch, the said stem being located at the periphery of the movement and extending in a direction perpendicular to the movement axis, and it relates even more particularly to alarm wrist-watches of this type in which a control member outside the Watch case can be actuated to turn said stem.

Several examples of alarm wrist-watches of said type are already known in the art. Most of the watch movements used thereby are provided with a couple of stems to ensure all the functions of the watch, i.e. winding up the watch movement and the alarm mechanism, setting the time indicating hands and the alarm time indicator indicating the time at which the alarm mechanism will operate, locking releasing and stopping the alarm mechanism. One of said stems generally permits, in a pushed position, to wind up the watch movement, when it is driven in one direction, and to wind up the alarm mechanism, when it is driven in the other direction, and, in a pulled position to set the time indicating watch hands, while the other stem permits, in a pushed position, to set the time at which the alarm mechanism must operate. In these known movements the alarm mechanism is actually locked, when the alarm time setting stem is pushed. To release this alarm mechanism so that it may operate at the desired time, this alarm time setting movements are provided with two crowns each fixed to one of said stems at the periphery of the Watch case to control the operation of said stems. These alarm watches have however the drawback that setting the alarm time is a rather cumbersome operation. Since the alarm time indicator can only be rotated in one direction, the corresponding crown must often be caught many times until the alarm time indicator is set in the desired position, and it sometimes occurs that said indicator is moved beyond the desired position, so that it has to be driven once more around the dial. The owner of such a watch who would desire to use it frequently, for instance, to remind himself of the parking time of his car, would soon be tired by said setting operations of the alarm mechanism of his watch.

It is now an object of this invention to provide an alarm watch in which setting the alarm time is very easy.

Another object of this invention is to provide an alarm watch of the type indicated above with a control member mounted on the watch case for rotary motions therearound, said control member ensuring the rotary motions of the alarm time setting stem by means of a speed reducing mechanism comprising planetary means and a differential motion transmitting member.

The watch movements known of the type indicated would indeed not enable actuating a pinion fixed on to said alarm time setting stem directly by means, for instance of a rotary bezel provided either with a spur gear or with a crown wheel toothing, since it is not possible, with the existing alarm wrist-watch movements, to make a pinion great enough to obtain a satisfactory transmission ratio between a rotary bezel and the alarm time indicator. In other words, the precision of the alarm time setting operation would be questionable, since a very small rotary motion of the bezel would produce a rather great displacement of the alarm time indicator. A speed reducer is therefore advantageously provided between a control member rotatably mounted around the Watch case and the alarm time setting stem, if the latter is to be made adjustable with a satisfactory precision by means of a rotary bezel.

In most of the movements with alarm mechanism known in the art, the alarm time setting stem and the usual winding and hand setting stern of the watch are located near one another, and the alarm time setting stem carries a control button or crown at the periphery of the watch case to enable moving this alarm time setting stern axially from its pushed position to its pulled position. As already indicated above, said alarm time setting stem enables setting the alarm time indicator when it is pushed, while in pulled position it merely releases the alarm mechanism and enables the latter to run down as soon as the watch hands indicate the same time as said alarm time indicator. Now, to pull said alarm time setting stem outward the casing with the alarm watches known in the art, the control button or crown usually fixed to said alarm time setting stem must be arranged so that it can be grasped and it must therefore be provided with a portion projecting from the watch case outer surface, if said pulling operation is to carry out in an easy manner.

This solution has, however, not only the drawback of producing a bad aesthetical effect but also that of exposing said button or crown and the stem to which it is fixed to some dangers. It is indeed a matter of fact that all parts projecting from a watch case, and in particular from a wrist-watch case, often remain gripped to foreign objects, such as for instance clothes sleeves.

It is therefore also an object of this invention to provide an alarm watch of the type indicated so as to avoid said drawbacks.

A further object of this invention is to take benefit of the fact that the alarm time setting stem is not actuated in rotation manually, but by means of a control member rotating around the Watch case, and to insert accordingly the control button or crown fixed to this stem entirely within a watch case lodging, the axial displacements of said stem being ensured by means of a lever extending on both sides of the winding and hand setting stern, said lever having one end cooperating with said control button or crown and carrying a button at its other end so that pushing said button will produce an outward motion of said alarm time setting stem.

Still further objects of the invention will become apparent in the course of the following description.

Four embodiments of the watch improved according to the invention are represented diagrammatically and by way of example in the drawings affixed to this specification, wherein like reference numerals designate identical parts throughout the same.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an enlarged part sectional view taken along line 1-1 of FIG. 4;

FlG. 2 is a part elevational view with a member cut away, taken from the left of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-section on a reduced scale taken along line III-Ill of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a plan view on the same scale as FIG. 3 of the first embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a cross-section analogous to that of FIG. 1 but sli'owing the second embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a cross-section analogous to those of FIGS. 1 and 5 of the third embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a plan view with somepartsbroken away and other in section of the fourth embodiment, and

FIG. 8 is a partial cross-section on a greater scale and along line VH1VIII of FIG. 7.

The alarm wrist-watches representedin the drawings are all.providedwith a movement of the well-known type .indicated above.

The operations of this. movement. are ensured as shown in FIG. 4 by means oftwo control buttons or crowns 1 and.2 provided .at the watch periphery.

.1 is the usual crown fixedat. the end of the winding and .hand setting stem. enables windingup. themotor. spring of thewatch, said In its pushed .positionfthis crown 1 spring driving bdththe watch movement and ."the' alarm mechanism. .In. saidpushed position the crowni'l could also be arranged soth'ata rotation thereof in one'clirec- .tion woulden'sure winding upnthe. motonspringof the watch, and: sorthat a rotation of crownfl in.'the opposed .direction'would wind tip-another motor spring arranged .for drivingithe alarm mechanism. Moreover, this crown 1 enables setting the time' indicating hands constituted .byi'the hour hand 3' and'fthe ininute hand '4 of the' watch,

when'itis pulled outofthewatch case. '2Lis a control .button also fixed to a controLstem described hereinafter with moredetails. 'Itensures. setting the alarm time indi- .cator constitutedby. hand 5, when it is in itspushe'd. posi- ".ftion, and releasing'jthe alarmmechanism, w-hen'itIis in its pulled position...

In contradistinc'tion to what vhas been donein the alarm watches made till now with said known movements,

only 'thewinding a'ndhand settingrstem of the watch according to theinven'tion'is actuated by a usual crown. In the four embodiments described in detaill hereinafter the alarm time setting stemis ,controlled by a .rotary bezel.

In the first embodiment'the(details of which are more ,1 particularly represented in'FIG'S. l" to3, the watch. movement'fi' is located together with ausual dial7 in a casehand 8- ca'rr'ying a.glass9and a bottom 10. (A peripheral "flange" 11 of 1 the latter presses 'on;a;g'asket '12 under the action of a 'ring" 13. screwed on athreaded portion of the o a'seband' 8. Two bores are: provide'dacross the wall of this'caseband to form passages, on the one'handjforfthe stem winding both the watch movement and'the' alarm made in one piece with. a tapped sleeve 16 is fixed on'the screw-threaded end portion'of stem-14. Atight closure between sleeve 16 and the case band'8 is ensured by means" of a gasket 1'7 compressed in-a tapped lodging of the caseband'S by-means of ascrew threadedring 18. A toothed pinion'19 isset with force fit on to sleevev 16 so :as to bej'ixe'd for. rotarymotions with respect tostem 14.

Pinion 19 and button are1completelyengaged in a cylindrical lodging 20 of the caseband's; when the stem 14. is in its. pushed position.

To enable pulling the stem 14 outwardv inan axialjdi- @rection, a. concave. lathe-turned portion 21 isprovided in the lower part of the'zcaseband 8' a1l1roundthe :latter.

1 Moreover, the pinion 19 is. made with an outer diameter smaller than that of button 15. his thus possible to gripthe latter by engaging a fingernailbetween the caseband 8 and the button 15 to pull the latter outward, until it. reaches theposition. represented in dot-and-dash lines in FIG. 4.

v :Intheaxial positionirepresented in FIG.;1 a'motion transmitting ring member 22 isrin meshing-relation with the pinion 19 by means of a crown wheel toothing as lhand 5 is indeed chosen so. that stem 14 hastobedriven three or four times. on itself to drive hand 5 oncearound andfthis pinion119,.is. 1 to 10, i.e.. the pinion 19 makes shown in FIG. 2. This member 22 is located in an annular space extending around the watch case, and comprised between a rotary bezel 23 and the caseband 8.

The member 22 can be driven in rotation round the caseband 8 by means of balls 24,'which also form a ball- "bearing of bezel. 23. The inner ball race of this bearing is' formed by a pairof truncated. conical surface portions 25 cut all round the caseband 8. The outer ball race of said. bearing. is constituted by a rounded groove 26 provided' in the bezel 23. As:'shown.in-FIG. 1 the groove 26 is so arranged as to'form an annular inwardly and downwardly. extending rim 27 coming in contact with a ball. portionZS situated below the plane defined by the centers of said. balls. The rirn'27' thus serves as axially retaining. .means' for the bezel 23. .Assembling and disassembling .this' bezel23 can accordingly be performed .as withv a bezel snap fitted. on. to the caseband.

The balls24 are regularly distributed all ronndthe .cas'eband 8 as 'shown'iniFIG. 3. They. are held in fixed positions with respect to member 22 by means of lodgings .28 provided in member22. for, these balls 24. Thelodglugs 28 .are of course made large enough to leave the balls 24 rotating freely therewithin.

When the bezel 23 is driven in rotation round the case- ,band 8, the. balls24. roll without slipping between the inner. and ,outer races. 25. and 26 of the cas'ebalid Sand of bezel. 2-3, respectively. By rolling that way,. the. balls 24.. drive member 22in rotation round the .caseband 8. The, angular. speed of this, member 22 is however smaller than that of. bezjell23. If the..bfalls. 24. are Very small, the angular vspeeduofwmemberll. isalmoshhalf that of The speed, reduction ensured. bytheditierential motion transmitting device described .enablesa very;.precise, setting of alarm time indicating hand. without altering anything m'the, connecting means. provided betweenstem .14 and hand. 5,..the. transmission. ratio. of, which isv .well determined in .themovetnents knownin'the art..- In these movementsthe. transmission. ratio between .stem 14. and

the dial. Moreover, if the pini0nl9 is made aslarge as poss ble within the limits of the..watchs height, the'transmission ratio, betweenthe motion transmitting member 22 ten revolutions, for one of themernber 22 roundthe caseband 8. "Sincethis. memberZZ ismoving approximately half as .quick as theb'ezel 2'3, it follows. that pinion 19 makes, almost'iive revolutions when the. bezel 23 isdriven once aroundthecaseband ,8. .As, a consequence ofv these transmission ratios,v to move. the, handS. through a predetermined angle, the bezel 23has to bemoved approximat'ely'through the. same angle around the casebandfi.

' Elfpfil'lmfil'lis have shown that the transmission ratio obtainedbetween. the beze1.23 and. the. hand 5.. enables setting thisyhandiS in anextremely precise and. quick manner by means. of the bezel"2.3, whereas ,a rotary bezel provided with 'a toothing meshing directly, with pinion 19 would not enable setting of the hand '5 withaprecision greater thana quarter. ofan hour after. or. before the ptime at .which the alarm mechanism, should begin running.

To render. driving thebezel 23 inrotationaround :the

.caseb'andmore easy, grooves. 29 are cut in the upper .face .ofthis bezel.

Although the .fixing means of the. bezel-23 constituted by the mm 27 considerably facilitate mounting-the driving; device of pinion 19 shown in FIG. 1, it may also be desirable to mount the rotarybezelin such a'manner that theball-bearing described cannot be opened by everybody, because of thedanger of losing the balls. .This danger is avoided in thesecond embodiment shown in FIG.'5. 1

In.this secondembodiment the. inner ,ball .raceyisncut in an independent ring 30. The outer ball race is here constituted, like the inner race, by a pair of truncated conical surface portions which are located, the first one on the rotary bezel 31, and the second one, on a ring 32 rigidly secured to the bezel 31 by means of screws 33'.

To assemble this ball-bearing, the two members and 31 are set into one another and the balls 24 are introduced between these two members. The ring 32 is then fixed to the bezel 31. Mounting this ball-bearing on the watch case can be performed by setting first the motion transmitting member 22 in place and then by pressing the ring 30 with force fit on to a cylindrical portion 34 of the oaseband 35.

With the exception of the elements described above this second embodiment is identical with the first one and it functions likewise. If the ball-bearing described becomes defective a watchmaker can repair the watch Without any difiiculty by removing the unit constituted by members 30, 31 and 32 and by setting a new unit on the Watch case.

Instead of using a speed reducer with differential motion transmitting member in which the planetary means are constituted by balls, it is also possible to use a similar device in which the planetary means are constituted by pinions as shown in the third embodiment (FIG. 6). In this embodiment the stem 14 of movement 6 also carries a button 15 provided with a sleeve portion on to which a toothed pinion as provided with a bearing surface 37 is fixed with force fit. This pinion 36 has, however, a greater diameter than that of button 15 but the bearing surface 37 is Smaller than this button. It forms thus the bottom of a groove extending between pinion 36 and button 15 and into which a fingernail can be introduced to move button 15 in axial direction and to carry thus stem 14 from its pushed position (represented in FIG. 6) into its pulled position.

Pinion 36 is in meshing relation with a toothed motion transmitting member constituted by ring 38. Bores 39 are provided in this ring 33 to receive pivots 40 made in one piece with pinions 41. These pinions 41 have the same function as the balls described in the two first embodiments. They are driven in rotation around pivots 39, on the one hand, by means of a ring -32. provided with an external toothing and set with force fit around an annular projection 43 of a piece 44, and, on the other hand, by an internally toothed ring 45 set with force fit into a cylindrical lodging of a rotary bezel 46. This bezel 46- is mounted for rotary motions on the caseband 47 by means of an annular rim 43 snap fitted on a corresponding portion of the caseband 47. As in the second embodiment piece id is set with force fit on to a cylindrical surface portion 34. of the caseband 47.

In the watch represented in H68. 7 and 8 the stem it actuates an alarm time indicator constituted by a disc 5a coaxial to the watch, when it is driven in rotation around its axis. This stem 14 carries an actuating member 2 first comprising a tapered sleeve 16;: screwed on a threaded portion of stem 14. Sleeve 16a is provided with an outwardly extending toothed rim 55. When the stem 14 is in pushed position, this toothed rim 55 is in meshing relation with a motion transmitting member 22a driven in rotation by a rotary bezel 23a. The actuating member 2 comprises moreover a button 15a having a cylindrical central projection 56 set with force fit into the axial opening of sleeve 16a.

The passage of the winding and hand setting stem across the caseband 8a is tightly closed by a gasket of wellknown type inserted between crown 1 and tube 51. This tube 51 is provided with a central annular outer rim 52, and it has its inner end set with force fit into a radial bore of the caseband 8a.

Another radial opening caseband for the stem 14. inner portion the diameter than that of the sleeve 16,

is also provided across said This second Opening has an of which is somewhat greater and an outer enlarged portion 6 which forms a tapped lodging to receive a tightening gasket 17 and a screw-threaded ring 18 holding said gasket in place.

As already described above the stem 14 and consequently the sleeve 16a as Well as the button 15a are fixed to one another and they can be set in two different axial positions. While moving said stem from its pulled position to its pushed position can be ensured by merely pressing on the buttons 15a, it is not possible to pull this button outward to move the stem 14 from its pushed position to its pulled position, since said button is flush with the outer surface of the caseband 8a when it is in its pushed position.

To enable the outward motion of said button and of the stem 14 fixed thereto, a control lever 4% having an L-shaped cross-section is extending on both sides of the Winding and hand setting stern. At its end 50 this lever 49 is provided with two fingers 57 and 58 extending on both sides of sleeve 16a and caught between the toothing 55 of this sleeve 16a and a ring 60 axially pressed between sleeve 16a and button 15a. The rocking motions of lever 49 are thus transformed in axial movements of member 2 without preventing the latter from rotating in its pushed position around its axis to set the alarm time indicator 5a.

A central opening 59 is provided in this lever 49 to permit engaging the latter around the upper portion of tube 51, on to rim 52 thereof. The tube 51 serves as guiding means for the lever 49 by preventing the latter from any transversal motion with respect to tube 51.

In axial direction the lever 49 is also held in place on tube 51, since the axial displacements of said lever are limited, on the one hand, by the annular rim 52, and, on the other hand, by the windin and hand setting crown 1.

The other end of lever 49 carries a control pushing button 53 fixed on to its outer face. Moreover, an elongated lodging 54 is provided in the outer side face of caseband 8a. This lodging 54 extends on both sides of the winding and hand set-ting stem. The lever 49 is entirely located in this lodging 54, so that the outer face of lever 49 is flush with the adjacent portions of the outer face of the caseband 8a. The lodging 54 is entirely filled by lever 49 so that it is not apparent. The outer surface of this lever 49 is also finished in the same way as that of the caseband 8a so that the lever 49' does not injure the appearance of the watch case.

When the stem 14 is in pushed position, the rotary bezel 23 enables driving the indicator 5a in the same manner as in the embodiments described above. If the control button 53 is then pressed inwards, the lever 49 bearing by the edges of its opening 59 on the annular rim 52 of tube 51 rocks and its end 553 carries the actuating member 2 into its pulled position.

When it is desired to move the actuating member 2 from its pulled position into its pushed position, for instance when the alarm mechanism of the watch is running in order to stop it, the button 15a need only be pressed, and the lever 49 will then be brought back in the position represented in FIG. 7.

It will be observed that the buttons 53 and 15a are only actuated by pressing so that there is no need of making them so that they project in a substantial manner from the watch casing. On the contrary, they can be given a form which does not injure the appearance of the watch and so that they do not risk being caught by foreign objects coming in contact with the watch.

While several embodiments of the invention have been described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, it will be understood that various changes in the shape, sizes and arrangement of parts could be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing the advantages thereof.

1 claim:

1. In a watch with an alarm mechanism, in combination, a case having an axis; a control member mounted on sprayer) L said case for rotary motions coaxiallytheretoya control 1 lever mounted on said case at the periphery thereof for rocking motions about a center portion; a movement located in said case and provided with time indicating hands, an alarmtime indicator, a first stem mounted in said movement for rotary and for shifting motions to wind up both the Watchmovementandthe alarm mechanism and to set the time indicating hands, said first stem extending in adirection perpendicular to said case axis, and a second stem also mounted-in said movement for rotary motions and for shifting motions in an axial direction from a pushedposition to a pulled position and vice versa, said second stem extending in a direction perpendicular exerted on the other end or said lever; and a speed reducing mechanism with planetary meansi inserted between 'said control member and said case and comprising a motion transmitting member capable of rotating coaxial ly to said case to drive said second stern in rotation, when said second stem is inits alarm time setting axial position, upon a rotation of said control member.

-2. In the alarm watch of claim 1, said control lever carrying a control pushing button atits endopposed tot that which engages said second stem.

'3. In the alarm watch of claim l, anelongated lodging provided at the periphery of said case on both sides of said first stem to receive said control lever, said control -lever being entirely engaged in said elongatedlodging and.

being flush with said case to hide said elongated lodging.

- 4. In the alarm watch of claim 3,.a tubefixed to said case and forming a passage for said first stem, an annular rim around said tube, an opening provided in the center portion of said control lever to permit engaging said conrol lever around said tube on said rim thereof to enable said rocking motions.

5. In an alarm wrist-watch the combination of: a Watertight case comprising a caseband having an axis and being formed with a cylindrical Wall portion in its upper portion; a bezel comprising a cylindrical Wall portion extending coaxially to and around said cylindrical wall portion of the caseband; a movement located in said case and provided with an alarm time setting stem mounted in said movement for rotary motion and extending in a direc-tion perpendicular to saidaxis of the caseband; and jou'rnalling and holding means arranged exclusively on said bezel and on said caseband and located therebetween both to 'journalthe bezel aroundsaid caseband and to hold it axially in place thereon, said journalling and holding means comprising planetary means inserted between said wall portions of the bezel and of the caseband, said planetary means forming part of a speed reducing mechanism and said speed reducing mechanism further comiprising a motion transmitting member capable of rotating coaxially to said caseband and arranged for establishing an operative connectiontbetween said bezel and said stern.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Elder Oct. 31, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Switzerland 'Dec..15 1956 

5. IN AN ALARM WRIST-WATCH THE COMBINATION OF: A WATERTIGHT CASE COMPRISING A CASEBAND HAVING AN AXIS AND BEING FORMED WITH A CYLINDRICAL WALL PORTION IN ITS UPPER PORTION; A BEZEL COMPRISING A CYLINDRICAL WALL PORTION EXTENDING COAXIALLY TO AND AROUND SAID CYLINDRICAL WALL PORTION OF THE CASEBAND; A MOVEMENT LOCATED IN SAID CASE AND PROVIDED WITH AN ALARM TIME SETTING STEM MOUNTED IN SAID MOVEMENT FOR ROTARY MOTION AND EXTENDING IN A DIRECTION PERPENDICULAR TO SAID AXIS OF THE CASEBAND; AND JOURNALLING AND HOLDING MEANS ARRANGED EXCLUSIVELY ON SAID BEZEL AND ON SAID CASEBAND AND LOCATED THEREBETWEEN BOTH TO JOURNAL THE BEZEL AROUND SAID CASEBAND AND TO HOLD IT AXIALLY IN PLACE THEREON, SAID JOURNALLING AND HOLDING MEANS COMPRISING PLANETARY MEANS INSERTED BETWEEN SAID WALL PORTIONS OF THE BEZEL AND OF THE CASEBAND, SAID PLANETARY MEANS FORMING PART OF A SPEED REDUCING MECHANISM AND SAID SPEED REDUCING MECHANISM FURTHER COMPRISING A MOTION TRANSMITTING MEMBER CAPABLE OF ROTATING COAXIALLY TO SAID CASEBAND AND ARRANGED FOR ESTABLISHING AN OPERATIVE CONNECTION BETWEEN SAID BEZEL AND SAID STEM. 